Art of filling shoes.



n sans an ANDREW THOMA, OT CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO NORTHAMERICAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ART OF FILLING SHOES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW THOMA, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in the Art of Filling Shoes,of

* which the following description is a specification.

As will be more apparent from the description later on, this patentrelates to my previous method Patents 808,224, of Decem ber 26, 1905,and 1,118,161 of November 24, 1914, and in certain features issubordinate to my foundation Patent No. 832,002 of September 25, 1906,and to the patents which are ancillary to said foundation patent. or fordifferent species and improvements of the same general kind of filler,including my Patents 861,555 of July 30, 1907, the copending Patent945,294 of January 4, 1910 (and Patent No. 855,868 of June 1, 1907 whenemployed as a binder for shoe filler), and more particularly to myPatents 1,032,312 of July 9, 1912, and to the several divisions andcontinuations of the last mentioned patent, and to my other fillerpatents copending with various of the aforesaid patents. Y

The present invention relates to a process of filling the bottomcavities of shoes with filler containing a firm-setting component insolution such as water-absorbing ingredients in an aqueous solution,orat least in a relatively slow-drying solvent capable of beingevaporated. For example, various'attempts have been made to use ordinaryflour and starch pastes'mixed with comminuted material such as groundcork to form a filler, but such fillers are so slow-drying that thefiller 40 layer thereof remains sensitive to injury from externalobjects while the shoes are lying on their racks drying, and for thesamereason layers of such fillers are liable to drop out from the shoecavities, and such fillers cause a serious delay in the progress ofthework in the shoe factory, which work has to be held back until thefilled cavities have become dry enough not to become disturbed by thewelt-cementing process and subsequent sole-laying, and finally theyeventually dry out so hard or board-like and unyielding that they injurethe flexibility of the shoe and tend in many instances to break andeventually to crumble in use. I have Patented May 22, 1911.

Application filed April 1, 1912. Serial No. 687,937.

discovered that by incorporating with such Water-softened ingredients,heat-responsive softening ingredients, and then using heat ing means,preferably a heated applying tool, all the above objections aresubstantially overcome and certain surprising advantages result. First,the heated tool heats the softening portions of the filler, which isusually and preferably a sticky component, so as to make the mass morereadily yielding under the leveling tool. Second, the heated toolovercomes, during the laying process, the dulling influence of themoisture-holding ingredient on the filler and develops the stickiness orotherwise renders active the beneficial properties of the softeningcomponent. stance, acts normally to dull the sensitiveness of thesticky, pitchy or gummy component, and the application of the heatedtool over the top of the filler removes or evaporates the water from thetop layer so as to bring to the surface and expose directly the stickycomponent, thereby providing better adhesion and cohesion for the massat that particular moment when these qualities are most essential.Third, the heated tool acts to sear or cake e. stiffen) the top surfaceof the nasty component like an incipient crust by drying out the Wateron the surface and to some extent within the mass of the filler layer inthe shoe-cavity as The watery paste, for inthe heated blade or toolpasses across the surface of said layer, and this takes place at thevery instant when said tool is operated to level said top surface downperfectly smooth. In other words, this step in the process serves toperpetuate the effect or result of the leveling process and maintain thefiller down smooth after it has once been smoothed by the tool. Fourth,the heated tool is kept clean and sleek by the waxy, gummy and stickycomponent, so that it does not get coated by the incrusting thereon ofthe pasty particles, which it nevertheless sears when it contacts withthem. While I prefer to carry out my invention in all the details hereinset forth, thereby getting all of the above principal advantagesl wishit understood that, as pointed out in certain of the claims hereinaftercontained, the invention may be embodied in and'be present in some ofits features Without the others, resulting in effecting some of theadvantages without the others. For instance, if the softening means issuch as olein oil and glycerin, and therefore not waxy or sleek merelybecause of the heat but also because of this oily or fatty softeningelement, the application of heat as explained will evaporate the watersolvent or other volatile solvent and thereby hasten the setting of thetop surface or face of the filler layer. Also, in addition to applyingthe waxy or pitchy and sticky medium as a component of the filler assuch, it may be likewise applied to the tool and by the tool to thefiller layer. And this application of the wax to the tool or roll andthereby to the filler may, with some fillers and in some cases, but withless beneficial results, be 'used instead ofhaving the waxy componentmixed into the filler.

For instance, if a hot roll is usedas the heat-conveying levelingmedium, this. roll may be waxed or oiled or similarly treated so that itnot only conveys the heat to the top surface of the filler layer asdesired and prevents the incrusting of the dried-out paste onto theroll, but it unites with the top portion of the filler layer a thin skimor extra sticky portion of the softening ingredient for giving thefiller layer the desired pliability and moisture-resisting properties.Broadly considered, this feature is a continuation of my copendingapplication Serial No. 550,802, filed March 21, 1910. lln other words,the heated tool or blade may be relied upon for carrying out this stepof the process from either one (or both together) of two standpoints,either (a) by developing the stickiness, waterproofing, etc., in thefiller itself from the latent ingredients, or (b) by introducing saidqualities into the top surface of the filler layer for facilitating thesole-laying and giving permanent improvement to the laid filler itself,

such as durability, pliability, waterproofing, adhesiveness, etc.,according to whatever ingredient may be used. The range of ingreclientsor chemical substances coming within the purview of my invention is setforth in my copending application Serial No. 432,083 (now Patent No.1,032,312, July 9, 1912) and the patents and applications thereinreferred to. My invention is particularly advantageous with a filler inwhich the firmsetting component in solution (2'. 0. containing a solventcapable of being driven off by heat so as to leave the firm-settingcomponent in a more or less firmly set condition) 1s paramount orpredominant. For instance, my invention is advantageous with a filler inwhich the comminuted material is mixed with a smooth solution ofjellified starch such as apparatine, or starch in solution such asarabol, or a solution of natural gums suchas gum tragacanth, gum arabic,or the like mucilaginous or gelatinous solutions. I include in thelatter group of solutions the silicates of soda, potash, etc. Likewisemy invention is advantageous with any of the sticky resinous materialsmentioned in my patents and applications above referred to, or withsolutions of the same suitable for forming the sticky waxy component andfluxing it with the mucilaginous pasty component. The moisture-swelledor jellified pastes, or at least the moisture-laden firmsettingcomponent serves to keep separated minute parts-of the finely subdividedsticky gummy or tarry component (if used), thereby rendering theadhesive or sticky principle of the latter inactive, but as soon as thewater has evaporated from the paste or stiffener or firm-settingcompound, the latter can no longer repel the particles of the stickygummy component within the filler body, and hence a union takes placewhich is of great value in effecting the results sought. Thisevaporation of the solvent by the local application of heat or a heatedtool and rendering active thereby the previously dulled sticky waxy orgummy component releases, as it were, this previously restrained ordulled sticky component, which therefore causes the latter to penetrateor permeate or sweat through the entire layer, particularly at the topsurface thereof which is'to receive the sole. In practice, the toolbears down upon the filler layer and operates to force to the top themobile binding fluid, the waxy component thereof which is contained inthe solution being hypei fluidified by the heat. This also brings to thefront the waterproof principle of the filler which may have thus farbeen dormant (provided the gummy ingredient used is of a water proofingnature) but without destroying the beneficial character and effect ofthe stiffening portion of the binder, which afterward during the wearingof the shoe controls the filler layer from being heat-influenced andfrom shifting in the bottom cavity in response to ordinary conditions ofheat and pressure in use on the wearers foot. Among the solutions may bementioned the naphthalin solutions of resinous or gummy matter, and asolution containing naphthalin may be used on the roll in the mannerabove mentioned in connection with the wax. In

this case it is capable of under heat, 2'. c. finely subdivided so as tobe capable of flowing freely and a verylight coating on the heated rollor tool serves therefore temporarily to render sticky the resinousmatter which may be in the solution or at the :exposed top portion ofthe filler layer in the shoe-bottom. The heat of the roll or tool notonly tends to evaporate any moisture which may be present, as explained,

but of'course quickens or renders active the latent stickiness of thelatent sticky component of the filler, as just mentioned, while the rollor tool at the same very fine fluidity time serves to apply thesuperficial solution or substance to quicken and develop the latentstickiness at the surface, as already explained.

A further advantage of my process especially in the respects mentionedresults from. the way in which the filler is applied in practice. Thefiller is usually held in a comparativey loose mass or heap in asuitable basin-like receptacle,and the operator takes thehot knife orspatula to lift the required amount into the shoe-bottom cavity, andthen quickly spreads it by a back and forth and lateral movement intothe confines of the cavity, and this presence of the hot bladeunderneath the filler as the latter is being lifted and then throughoutthe mass as it is being spread, and finally by the roll or hot tool ontop as it is being smoothed down, results in quickening the gummycomponent into a highly sticky condition so that the filler layeradheres to the bottom of the cavity as well as having its top surfacerendered sticky aided, as explained in the more complete process, by thequickening top dressing or superficial application of the surfacesubstance or solution for adhesion to the outsole when laid.

My invention does not reside solely nor primarily in using a heatedtool, but resides primarily in providing the pasty or slimy, mushy kindor type of filler with a waxy, sticky, pitchy, gummy, fatty, element, asset forth, and applying it in connection with heat, so that the tooldoes not stick or incrust with the filler, but is kept sleek by the waxycomponent and is given a free slipping movement over the pastycomponent, while the filler itself is rendered highly sticky, asdistinguished from being slowadhering, and is given a formed or shapedsetting by the drying out of the water or other solvent, which resultsin giving it a top crust or set formation suflicient to hold it in placeand permit the sole-laying and further operations much quicker than hasheretofore been possible with the so-called paste fillers. My inventionmakes it practicable to use these fillers cold and yet without delay,because the application of heat evaporates the moisture of the paste soas to give the set condition. A hot blade cannot be used with theordinary paste filler alone because the paste dries upon the blade andsticks and incru'sts there so as to cause the blade to drag the filleralong with it and make it practically impossible to smooth the fillerdown into shape in the shoe-bottom. By the addition to such a filler ofthe softening component, already explained, the hot tool can then beused with the ordinary paste filler, because of the sleeking elementwithin the paste. Hence, by the introduction of this element into thefiller or used in connection with the filler, it becomes possible toemploy the hot tool with a paste filler, and thereby drying out andincrusting the layer of paste-filler in the shoe, so that the delaywhich has always heretofore existed is obviated and the shoe can bepassed along at once to the next operation in its manufacture. This isone phase of my invention and one great advantage thereof, towit, withpaste fillers or evaporating hardening fillers. Another phase of myinvention and an equally important advantage thereof relates to its usewith the so-called waxy or gummy and nonevaporating fillers (such forinstance as con tained in my Patent No. 832,002). By combining with thislast mentioned type of filler a pasty or firm-setting component insolution and then applying it in connection with heat, and especially inconnection with a heated tool in direct contact with the top surface ofthe filler layer, the solvent is evaporated or dried out by means of theheat and of the heated tool soas not only to stiffen the filler layerbut to convert the said solution into a form or condition where it is nolonger responsive to heat, as the firm-setting component or ingredientthereof, having parted with or been separated from its 'sumed, withinthe filler body, thepermanent character of a stiffener. To make thisclear, let us suppose that the firm-setting component in solution issimply ordinary waterdissolved paste. The application of the heat, inthe manner stated, has operated to simultaneously eliminate the waterand bring about a closer union with the pitchy waterproofing ingredient,so that the envel-. oping and permeating influence of the latter hasbecome paramount and yet is modified by the softening influence of theset paste. The shoe now contains a filler layer which, under ordinaryconditions of the shoes use, is waterproofed and pliable and yet isstifiened or set sufiiciently to be non-shiftable in the shoe andnon-responsive to ordinary conditions of temperature. The paste-formingcomponent having become thoroughly united with the waterproofingcomponent by the simultaneous evaporation of the water from the pasteand the super-melting of the waterproofing ingredient, is no longeraccessible to water, so that it cannot thereafter be softened, if thewearer should walk in the wet, for instance.

Further advantages of my invention relate to the manufacture thereof andother plicable to a ready-mixed filler such as disclosed in my lastmentioned patent, and on the other hand it is applicable to a filler inwhich the solution is prepared and sold separately to be mixed with theground cork at the shoe factory, and it is likewise applicable to anadmixture of filler sold dry to be rendered active by means of water(cold, hot, or steam vapor) at the shoe factory. I use the termsoftening filler-element in the claims to designate that which, eitheras a component or as an accessory material, effects the softening of thefiller, i. 6., this term denotes the substance which renders the fillerplastic enough for laying in the shoe cavit V M W .1

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. The art of filling shoes, which consists of providing a shoe-filleramenable to a softening filler-element and to heat. and having afirm-setting component in solution with a solvent capable of beingdriven off by heat, softening said filler and rendering the same pliableby a softening filler-element, and applying the filler in a layer to theshoe-bottom cavity in the presence of heat sufficient to drive off atleast a portion 2f the solvent in the process of laying the ller.

2. The art of filling shoes, which consists of providing a shoe-filleramenable to 'a softening filler-element and to heat and having afirm-setting component in solution with a solvent capable of beingdriven off by heat, softening said filler and rendering the same pliableby a softening filler-element united with the 'filler, and applying thefiller in a layerto'the shoe-bottom cavity in the presence of heatsufficient to drive off at least a portion of the solvent in the processof laying the filler.

3. The art of filling shoes, which consists of providing a shoe-filleramenable to a softening filler-element and to heat and havin g a firmsetting component in solution with a solvent capable of being drivenofl' by heat, softening said filler and rendering the same pliable byintroducing a softening element into the filler at the time of layingthe filler, and applying the filler in a layer to the shoe-bottom cavityin the presence of heat sufficient to volatilize the solvent and therebyhasten the setting of the firm-setting component.

4. The. art of filling shoes, consisting of applying in a thin layer asetting filler in a plastic condition to a shoe-bottom, and thenimmediately stiffening the top of'the laid filler by direct applicationto said top of means capable of cooperating with the filler-to cause thetop of the latter to become set more quickly than the rest of the layer.

5. The art of filling shoes, consisting of come thoroughly waterproofnext the out-' sole.

6. The art of filling shoes, consisting of applying a plastic, settingfiller to a shoebottom, and then applying a top dressing capable ofuniting therewith as a water proof compound.

7. The art of filling shoes, which consists of incorporating together asticky, gummy component, a firm setting component in solution andgranulated body-material, applying the same in a layer to the shoebottom cavity, and then applying a top dressing of softening material inconnection with heat.

8. The art of filling shoes, which consists of incorporating together asticky gummy component,.a firm-setting component in solution with asolvent capable of being driven off by heat, and granulatedbody-material, and applying the same in a layer in the cavity of theshoe-bottom by means of a tool having sufiicient heat to volatilize saidsolvent and quicken said sticky gummy component and thereby hasten thesetting of said firm-setting component and develop a permanent unionbetween the sticky component and the firm-setting component at the 7time of filler-laying.

9. The herein described process, which consists of applying to ashoe-bottom a shoe filler amenable to a softening filler-element and toheat and containing a firm-setting component in solution with a solventcapable of being driven off by heat, softening said filler until pliableby the agency of "a heat-responsive softening element, and applying adrying heat to the top surface of v the filler layer when in ashoe-bottom cavity sufiicient to volatilize the solvent.

10. The herein described process, which consists of providing ashoe-filler amenable to a softening filler-element and to heat andcontaining a firm-setting component in solution with a solvent capableof being driven off by heat, softening said filler until pliable by theagency of a heat-responsive softening element in union with the filler,placing the filler in the cavity of the shoe bottom and applying adrying heat to the top surface of the filler layer .when in ashoe-bottom cavity sufficient to volatilize the solvent.

11. The herein described process, which consists ofproviding ashoe-filler amenable to a softening filler-element and to heat andcontaining a firm-setting component in solution with a solvent capableof being driven Y ofi by heat, softening said filler until pliable bytheagency of a heat-responsive softening element, laying the softenedfiller in a shoebottom cavity and simultaneously applying a drying heatto the top surface of the filler layer sufficient to evaporate thesolvent and quicken the setting of the filler.

12. The art of filling shoe bottoms, which consists of providing afiller material having a firm setting component in solution, softeningand rendering the same pliable by introducing a softening element as apart of the filler, laying the softened filler in the shoe bottom cavityand then applying a top dressing of softening material in connectionwith heat to the top surface of the filler layer when in the shoe bottomcavity.

13. The herein described art, which consists of providing a shoe-fillerhaving a firm-setting component in volatile solution, rendering saidfiller pliable by introducing a softening element as a part of thefiller and laying the filler in the shoe-bottom cavity irrespective ofwhether said softener is introduced before said laying of the filler orat the time of said laying, and applying heat to the top surface of saidfiller layer.

14. The art of filling shoes, which consists of incorporating asoftening, sticky component into a filler containing a predominatingamount of firm setting material in a volatile solution which normallymaintains the stickiness of said sticky component latent on account ofits solvent, applying the filler thus modified to the shoe bottomcavity, and then applying a heated tool over the top surface of thefiller layer in said cavity with heat sufficient to develop said latentstickiness by volatilizing the solvent.

15. The art of filling shoes, which consists of rendering the stickysoftening component of the filler dull and less than normally sticky bymingling therewith a mois-' tenin solution, applying this mixture to thes cc bottom cavity, and then applying a heated tool to the top surfaceof the filler layer in said cavity, until the dulling effect of thesolution is neutralized and the stickiness of the softening component isdeveloped.

16. The art, which consists of modifying a normally firm setting pastyfillerby in-' troducing thereinto a fluid softener, laying the filler inthe shoe-bottom cavity and applying heat to the top surface of thefiller when in the shoe bottom cavity with heat suflicient to dry outsaid pasty filler appreciably and quicken the modified filler.

i 17. The herein described process, which consists of modifying anormally firm-setting pasty filler by introducingtheremto a fluidsoftener, laying the filler 1n the shoebottom cavity and stiffening thefiller by applying a hot tool in direct contact with the top surface ofthe filler when in a shoebottom cavity.

18. The art of filling shoes, containing the following essential steps:providinga filler containing a latent sticky component and which lacksthe desired ultimate active stickiness before being applied to the shoe,introducing thereinto a fluid softener, laying said filler in a shoebottom cavity irrespective of whether this laying step in the process isperformed before, after, or at the time of the introduction of saidsoftener, and quickening the laid filler to its desired condition ofultimate active stickiness by a topsurface treatment consisting at leastin part of a superficial application of a coating substance capable ofquickening and developing said latent stickiness.

19. The herein described process, which consists of modifying a normallyfirm-setting pasty shoe-filler by introducing thereinto a fluidsoftener, laying said filler in a shoe-bottom cavity irrespective ofwhether this step in the process is performed before, after, or at thetime of the introduction of said softener, and stiffening and quickeningthe laid filler by applying directly to the top surface thereof a hottool coated with Waxy substance.

20. In the art of filling shoes, first providing a filler containing alatent sticky component and which lacks the desired ultimate activestickiness before being applied to the shoe, applying the filler to theshoe .bottom cavity, and rendering said latent stickiness active by theaid of heat so that it may stick to the leather of the shoe cavity.

21. The art of 'filling shoes, which consists of incorporating togethera gummy, sticky compound, a thick 1noisture-absorbing paste andgranulated body-material in such proportions that the sticky compound isheld subdivided in minute free particles separated by and in themoisture laden paste, whereby the adhesive and sticky property of theformer is rendered inactive, then laying said filler in the shoe bottomcavity and applying a heated leveling tool over the surface thereof soas to evaporate the moisture from the light coating on the granulatedportions of the filler, and simultaneously develop the stickiness andstiffen the surface of the laid filler.

22. The art of filling shoes, which consists of applying the shoe bottomfiller to the shoe bottom cavity and then, as a separate act and stepimmediately producing a stiffening of the top surface thereof to an,

inerusted self-sustaining condition.

23. The art of filling shoes, which consists of applying the shoe bottomfiller to the shoe bottom cavity and immediately leveling said filler tothe desired smooth top surface, and simultaneously stiffening saidsurface to a set, incrusted condition.

24. The art of filling shoes, which consists of applying the shoe bottomfiller to the shoe bottom cavity and immediately leveling said filler tothe desired smooth top surface, and simultaneously stiffening saidsurface and rendering said surface sticky.

25. In the art of filling shoes, employing the following two steps, butWithout limiting the method to the order of said steps, viz; (1)admixing With a filler containing 5 granulated body material and a thickmois ture absorbing paste an oily softening ingredient capable ofsupplying the sleeking element in the presence of said body materialwhen applied in the shoe bottom cav- 10 ity, (2) applying the filler tosaid cavity by means of a heated tool, irrespective of Whether this steptakes place before said admixing or at the time of said admixing. Intestimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of 15 two subscribing Witnesses.

ANDREW THOMA. Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, JAMES R. HODDER.

